Ohia_Lehua
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2012
- Posts
- 412
Marella was a woman who lacked a last name and as past. The only thing people knew about her for sure was that she was a merciless pirate captain, commanded the Sea Maiden's Vengeance and held a fleet of nearly forty ships. It wasn't a staggering number of ships but the thing that made them infamous was the luck that they seemed to sail on. Winds were ever in their favor, storms blew past them and booty seemed to fall in their laps. She was untouchable and any who tried to capture her ended up lost at sea in a sea storm.
When Marella turned up with the tides one day, seven years ago, everyone ignored the woman and her strangely built ship. She had no crew and had no name for herself, what threat was she? She showed the seas and all who rode them the folly of their words.
She was a pretty lass there was no denying that but it wasn't her looks that drew people's attention. Within the first three months she had found and killed twenty-six mermaids and strung one of their colored scales in her hair. By the end of that year she had so many scales in her hair she looked half mermaid herself, though people made sure to keep that to themselves. When her head got so heavy she took all but the seven of most vibrant colored scales out of her hair and started ornamenting her clothing and leather workings with them. And sooner then anyone would have thought she ranked as the second most powerful pirate of the seas.
Marella had her sights set on the Pirate King, no one else mattered to her and as long as she had been to sea and as far as she had chased him in the shadows so as not to attract his attention she had never laid eyes on him. He was always one step ahead of her. If she had been willing to be outright with and go to war with him she was sure that he would come to her but that wasn't what she wanted. His fleet was larger then her's and he was said to have killed more mermaids then she did plus he no doubt had more alliances then she did since she didn't believe in such things and had none at sea. And now she feared with her growing mermaid gift and the powers that they bestow she was going to get his attention and it would be on his terms. It wasn't something Marella was prepared for and it was the reason she rounded the island and sailed into the busy black market port.
Always cautious of the deeds of others Marella kept all but three ships, her's included in the count, at sea. Should something happen Marella need only to get a flair up in the sky for the fleet to close the port and start it's attack. Today was about weapons and refilling their stock pile of food. 'No Mercy' was a new acquired ship and while she had a fair number of cannons aboard they were old and needed to be replaced with a heavier firing load.
The three ships pulled into port and tied off, paying the harbor master as they passed him. Leon and Johnlock would stay with the ships as Marella's first and second and that was more reassuring then the harbor master's little birdies. "RUM!" Hollered the tall sinewy, sandy haired third, Johnlock. He had deeply tanned skin where the tattoos didn't cover and wore his hair in tiny woven braids. Leon on the other hand was as dark skinned as a starless night with white scares cut into the tribal patterns of this people. His skin always gleamed with oil as brightly as the sliver cuffs on both his wrists. When she had first met Leon he was a slave and easily the biggest man she had ever seen with muscles that bulged and rippled with barely contained strength. It wasn't a hard decision to spend the 500 gold coins to buy him and an even easier one to set him free.
Bound by some ridiculous notion of loyalty he became the first member of her crew, her first mate and after all these many years he now commanded his own ship 'Sapphire Eyes' but still stuck close to Marella as a silent but smiling giant shadow.
Johnlock's answer was a single finger held up in the air. If he wanted rum he could get his own when she came back. The rest of the crew members from the 'Sea Maiden's Vengeance', 'Sapphire Eyes' and 'Little Bitch' chuckled.
The noise from the market was loud and crushing in comparison to the hush of the sea's song. Voices rang around them in an assortment of languages, steel hammered in the craft of swords and shoes for horses and the cried of animals paired with their smells filled the salty air. That was another things that coming to port, the smells were always so strong and wrong. Marella's senses always felt overwhelmed by everything that was going on and her body was tense and itching for a fight.
"Rhys, take you and yours from the 'Little Bitch' and get food stuff. You know your bother best so keep in mind that it's him your making happy." Marella ordered Johnlock's first mate and tossed him a bags of coins. Last time Rhys had stayed aboard and Johnlock was in charge of the food getting. It was the worst three months at sea. Dagger didn't like what he was brother and rebelled and served them beans and pork belly every day until they gave in and made another trip to port.
Moses or better known as Dagger, was the fleet's cook and had invited himself on to Leon's ship when her first mate had captured it in a raid and made it his own. Dagger was the best sea cook she had ever known and the name of his brother and him were commonly known as the Dagger Cook and the Handsome Cut-throat. There were still a salt dog or two out there that held hard feelings towards Marella because she had managed to keep Dagger for so long. He was loyal to her and as long as his kitchen was filled with what he thought was proper then everything was fine.
"Bring in water as well." She shouted to Rhys' back. He turned and gave her a bow a large smile on his face. This wasn't his first time doing this and he had never failed or disappointed her but it was a habit to bark orders at the men.
"Willie, will you see-"
"Bart is still around and I'll get what's needed from him. Come on lads."
Marella nodded and tossed another bag filled with coins at Willie and watched him join the other men. His task was supplying the fleet with needed ship related items. He had already gone over all the ships and made a list of what he needed to get before going to Marcella and giving her a quote of what it wold cost. Most of what was needed was just things that had grown worn over time that the salt in the sea and air had slowly eaten and turned brittle. Marella had also added extra supplies to the list. If the winds could be trusted there was a battle to be had out there between her and the Pirate King and she didn't want a limp ship dragging their speed if she could help it.
That left the arming of the newest ship and magics to her and her crew. "Dom." A man of average height with salt and peppered hair and thickly corded muscles stepped forward. He never wore a smile and barely said a word and had acted as she first mate when Leon took his own ship and became her second in command.
"Cap'n." His voice was deeper then the sea and gravely.
"See to the arming of our new ship?"
Dom's lips turned into a frightful slash across his face that Marella knew to be a smile. She didn't need anything more then that and handed him the last bag of coins.
"Frost, Peter and Soto come with me." She was going into the blackest part of the market and she needed men who would not reacted unless they needed to.
A line of ash and dirt crossed over the path and circled the entire area of the Witch Brew. From this side of the line Marella couldn't feel a thing but she knew the moment they stepped over that line dark magic would crawl over her skin like tiny little bugs. She hated that feeling but crossed over the line anyways, the three men right at her heels.
Guards were thicker here as they strolled down the main walk of Witch Brew. The carts and lean to buildings offered a little bit of everything. One crooked backed man was even selling live pixies and fairies trapped in twisted iron cages. Another man claimed to be selling authentic Basilisk fangs, rope braided from the hair of nymphs and a broken tip of a unicorn. It was the unicorn horn that made Marella stop and check it out. By sight alone it was correct but the man kept it in a thick glass case that shimmered with magical runes. She could feel nothing coming from the horn and it was a verbal fight and a flash of gold coins that convinced the man to let her touch the horn. Unfortunately it turned out to be nothing but a horn of a unicorn whale and she handed it back to the man when he gave her his price.
"Marella..." Her name was whispered by the blind old woman. She sat behind an empty table and had the largest crowd. Maggie was the reason that this place was called Witch Brew. What she sold couldn't be asked for and she was more often then not going to send a person away. She had a way with magic that wasn't possible but then again who was to say what was possible with magic.
"It's been awhile child..." The voice sung in her head with the rasp of the islands thickening it. "Why's you here against the winds of your fatha?"
Marella couldn't see the old woman now because of the group that stepped up. She guessed them to be some kind of family and with her ears she could hear Maggie's voice the same time the voice sang in her head.
"I's have what you be looking for..." She promised, goosebumps raising on Marella's skin.
She didn't doubt that the old woman had what she wanted but the cost wasn't something she was willing to pay. She wasn't quite sure what the woman wanted with her blood but she wasn't going to give it to the witch. She could live without the thing that old Maggie had and she could find other things that would work if and when she needed it. "I will not pay your price..." It was the same answer as always and she mentally closed herself off to the witch's tempting words.
Unnerved by the tug she felt coming from Maggie's stall, Marella hurried with her list of things. Thoth's Papyrus was surprisingly easy to find and Marella bought everything that the Asian man had to sell. Frost disappeared while she was looking over inks made from the blood or venom of magical creatures when he came back with a leather bound tomb about the four inches thick bound completely out of Thoth's Papyrus. It was a great find and she told him so and he kept a hold of it. She was looking for an ink blessed by on the the Lucky Seven but everywhere she went they were either out or it was a fake.
When Marella found a quill made from a harpy talon she quickly bought it at twice the price. The pressure from Maggie was getting heavier and felt like it covered her whole body instead of just her mind. "Find someone else to play with." Marella hissed, as she purchased ink made from the blood of a sphinx.
"I's have something for you, free of price...
"Nothing is free."
"This is." Maggie's voice challenged with sweetness. "Are you too scared of little ol' me to even see what it is?"
Anger flashed through Marella's body. "Frost give the tome and papyrus to Soto. Soto take that and the ink and quill back to the ship. Peter you know the crystal that shattered, find me another one. I don't care about but size as long as it's flawless." She turned lastly to Frost who had a frown on his face. The idea of leaving his Captain alone didn't sit well with him. "Just say nothing." All her men knew to keep her away from Maggie but she wasn't going to let the old woman think she was scared of her.
Odd... The crowd and line that had been around Maggie's when they first past was now gone, there wasn't a person in sight except Maggie who sat with her hands folded on top of the tabletop.
"Captain-" Frost started but swallowed the rest of his words when he saw the look on Marella's face.
"Marella." There was her name again, spoken out loud instead of in her mind.
"Maggie." Marella kept her distance but the old woman beckoned her closer.
"Come see what I's have for you." She waved the younger woman closer before showing her a small wooded box smaller then her palm. "A gift." She laughed handing the box over to the pirate.
"A gift?" Everything in Marella's body told her not to open the box but she didn't listen, she wanted to see what was inside. "A gift..." Her voice was quite and she said the words more to herself then anyone else. The box opened smoothly and inside was a single pearl the exact color of Marella's eyes. Her whole world froze and she felt light headed. The only thing that she heard clearly was Maggie's crackling out her laughter as she told the pirate that it would help her find the Mermaid Princess.
Maggie lied, the 'free' gift came with a cost and it was worst then her blood, it was the truth.
Black dots floated in front of her and static filled her ears and the black dots got bigger and started to dance. Were these black spot mocking her? They had to be because the last thing she heard over Maggie's laughter was Frost's cry of alarm as she blacked out.
When Marella turned up with the tides one day, seven years ago, everyone ignored the woman and her strangely built ship. She had no crew and had no name for herself, what threat was she? She showed the seas and all who rode them the folly of their words.
She was a pretty lass there was no denying that but it wasn't her looks that drew people's attention. Within the first three months she had found and killed twenty-six mermaids and strung one of their colored scales in her hair. By the end of that year she had so many scales in her hair she looked half mermaid herself, though people made sure to keep that to themselves. When her head got so heavy she took all but the seven of most vibrant colored scales out of her hair and started ornamenting her clothing and leather workings with them. And sooner then anyone would have thought she ranked as the second most powerful pirate of the seas.
Marella had her sights set on the Pirate King, no one else mattered to her and as long as she had been to sea and as far as she had chased him in the shadows so as not to attract his attention she had never laid eyes on him. He was always one step ahead of her. If she had been willing to be outright with and go to war with him she was sure that he would come to her but that wasn't what she wanted. His fleet was larger then her's and he was said to have killed more mermaids then she did plus he no doubt had more alliances then she did since she didn't believe in such things and had none at sea. And now she feared with her growing mermaid gift and the powers that they bestow she was going to get his attention and it would be on his terms. It wasn't something Marella was prepared for and it was the reason she rounded the island and sailed into the busy black market port.
Always cautious of the deeds of others Marella kept all but three ships, her's included in the count, at sea. Should something happen Marella need only to get a flair up in the sky for the fleet to close the port and start it's attack. Today was about weapons and refilling their stock pile of food. 'No Mercy' was a new acquired ship and while she had a fair number of cannons aboard they were old and needed to be replaced with a heavier firing load.
The three ships pulled into port and tied off, paying the harbor master as they passed him. Leon and Johnlock would stay with the ships as Marella's first and second and that was more reassuring then the harbor master's little birdies. "RUM!" Hollered the tall sinewy, sandy haired third, Johnlock. He had deeply tanned skin where the tattoos didn't cover and wore his hair in tiny woven braids. Leon on the other hand was as dark skinned as a starless night with white scares cut into the tribal patterns of this people. His skin always gleamed with oil as brightly as the sliver cuffs on both his wrists. When she had first met Leon he was a slave and easily the biggest man she had ever seen with muscles that bulged and rippled with barely contained strength. It wasn't a hard decision to spend the 500 gold coins to buy him and an even easier one to set him free.
Bound by some ridiculous notion of loyalty he became the first member of her crew, her first mate and after all these many years he now commanded his own ship 'Sapphire Eyes' but still stuck close to Marella as a silent but smiling giant shadow.
Johnlock's answer was a single finger held up in the air. If he wanted rum he could get his own when she came back. The rest of the crew members from the 'Sea Maiden's Vengeance', 'Sapphire Eyes' and 'Little Bitch' chuckled.
The noise from the market was loud and crushing in comparison to the hush of the sea's song. Voices rang around them in an assortment of languages, steel hammered in the craft of swords and shoes for horses and the cried of animals paired with their smells filled the salty air. That was another things that coming to port, the smells were always so strong and wrong. Marella's senses always felt overwhelmed by everything that was going on and her body was tense and itching for a fight.
"Rhys, take you and yours from the 'Little Bitch' and get food stuff. You know your bother best so keep in mind that it's him your making happy." Marella ordered Johnlock's first mate and tossed him a bags of coins. Last time Rhys had stayed aboard and Johnlock was in charge of the food getting. It was the worst three months at sea. Dagger didn't like what he was brother and rebelled and served them beans and pork belly every day until they gave in and made another trip to port.
Moses or better known as Dagger, was the fleet's cook and had invited himself on to Leon's ship when her first mate had captured it in a raid and made it his own. Dagger was the best sea cook she had ever known and the name of his brother and him were commonly known as the Dagger Cook and the Handsome Cut-throat. There were still a salt dog or two out there that held hard feelings towards Marella because she had managed to keep Dagger for so long. He was loyal to her and as long as his kitchen was filled with what he thought was proper then everything was fine.
"Bring in water as well." She shouted to Rhys' back. He turned and gave her a bow a large smile on his face. This wasn't his first time doing this and he had never failed or disappointed her but it was a habit to bark orders at the men.
"Willie, will you see-"
"Bart is still around and I'll get what's needed from him. Come on lads."
Marella nodded and tossed another bag filled with coins at Willie and watched him join the other men. His task was supplying the fleet with needed ship related items. He had already gone over all the ships and made a list of what he needed to get before going to Marcella and giving her a quote of what it wold cost. Most of what was needed was just things that had grown worn over time that the salt in the sea and air had slowly eaten and turned brittle. Marella had also added extra supplies to the list. If the winds could be trusted there was a battle to be had out there between her and the Pirate King and she didn't want a limp ship dragging their speed if she could help it.
That left the arming of the newest ship and magics to her and her crew. "Dom." A man of average height with salt and peppered hair and thickly corded muscles stepped forward. He never wore a smile and barely said a word and had acted as she first mate when Leon took his own ship and became her second in command.
"Cap'n." His voice was deeper then the sea and gravely.
"See to the arming of our new ship?"
Dom's lips turned into a frightful slash across his face that Marella knew to be a smile. She didn't need anything more then that and handed him the last bag of coins.
"Frost, Peter and Soto come with me." She was going into the blackest part of the market and she needed men who would not reacted unless they needed to.
A line of ash and dirt crossed over the path and circled the entire area of the Witch Brew. From this side of the line Marella couldn't feel a thing but she knew the moment they stepped over that line dark magic would crawl over her skin like tiny little bugs. She hated that feeling but crossed over the line anyways, the three men right at her heels.
Guards were thicker here as they strolled down the main walk of Witch Brew. The carts and lean to buildings offered a little bit of everything. One crooked backed man was even selling live pixies and fairies trapped in twisted iron cages. Another man claimed to be selling authentic Basilisk fangs, rope braided from the hair of nymphs and a broken tip of a unicorn. It was the unicorn horn that made Marella stop and check it out. By sight alone it was correct but the man kept it in a thick glass case that shimmered with magical runes. She could feel nothing coming from the horn and it was a verbal fight and a flash of gold coins that convinced the man to let her touch the horn. Unfortunately it turned out to be nothing but a horn of a unicorn whale and she handed it back to the man when he gave her his price.
"Marella..." Her name was whispered by the blind old woman. She sat behind an empty table and had the largest crowd. Maggie was the reason that this place was called Witch Brew. What she sold couldn't be asked for and she was more often then not going to send a person away. She had a way with magic that wasn't possible but then again who was to say what was possible with magic.
"It's been awhile child..." The voice sung in her head with the rasp of the islands thickening it. "Why's you here against the winds of your fatha?"
Marella couldn't see the old woman now because of the group that stepped up. She guessed them to be some kind of family and with her ears she could hear Maggie's voice the same time the voice sang in her head.
"I's have what you be looking for..." She promised, goosebumps raising on Marella's skin.
She didn't doubt that the old woman had what she wanted but the cost wasn't something she was willing to pay. She wasn't quite sure what the woman wanted with her blood but she wasn't going to give it to the witch. She could live without the thing that old Maggie had and she could find other things that would work if and when she needed it. "I will not pay your price..." It was the same answer as always and she mentally closed herself off to the witch's tempting words.
Unnerved by the tug she felt coming from Maggie's stall, Marella hurried with her list of things. Thoth's Papyrus was surprisingly easy to find and Marella bought everything that the Asian man had to sell. Frost disappeared while she was looking over inks made from the blood or venom of magical creatures when he came back with a leather bound tomb about the four inches thick bound completely out of Thoth's Papyrus. It was a great find and she told him so and he kept a hold of it. She was looking for an ink blessed by on the the Lucky Seven but everywhere she went they were either out or it was a fake.
When Marella found a quill made from a harpy talon she quickly bought it at twice the price. The pressure from Maggie was getting heavier and felt like it covered her whole body instead of just her mind. "Find someone else to play with." Marella hissed, as she purchased ink made from the blood of a sphinx.
"I's have something for you, free of price...
"Nothing is free."
"This is." Maggie's voice challenged with sweetness. "Are you too scared of little ol' me to even see what it is?"
Anger flashed through Marella's body. "Frost give the tome and papyrus to Soto. Soto take that and the ink and quill back to the ship. Peter you know the crystal that shattered, find me another one. I don't care about but size as long as it's flawless." She turned lastly to Frost who had a frown on his face. The idea of leaving his Captain alone didn't sit well with him. "Just say nothing." All her men knew to keep her away from Maggie but she wasn't going to let the old woman think she was scared of her.
Odd... The crowd and line that had been around Maggie's when they first past was now gone, there wasn't a person in sight except Maggie who sat with her hands folded on top of the tabletop.
"Captain-" Frost started but swallowed the rest of his words when he saw the look on Marella's face.
"Marella." There was her name again, spoken out loud instead of in her mind.
"Maggie." Marella kept her distance but the old woman beckoned her closer.
"Come see what I's have for you." She waved the younger woman closer before showing her a small wooded box smaller then her palm. "A gift." She laughed handing the box over to the pirate.
"A gift?" Everything in Marella's body told her not to open the box but she didn't listen, she wanted to see what was inside. "A gift..." Her voice was quite and she said the words more to herself then anyone else. The box opened smoothly and inside was a single pearl the exact color of Marella's eyes. Her whole world froze and she felt light headed. The only thing that she heard clearly was Maggie's crackling out her laughter as she told the pirate that it would help her find the Mermaid Princess.
Maggie lied, the 'free' gift came with a cost and it was worst then her blood, it was the truth.
Black dots floated in front of her and static filled her ears and the black dots got bigger and started to dance. Were these black spot mocking her? They had to be because the last thing she heard over Maggie's laughter was Frost's cry of alarm as she blacked out.
